Management (Higher Apprenticeship) (SASE)

Framework Specification

Sector Profile

Management and leadership skills have a major impact on the development, productivity and performance of organisations of all sizes and across all sectors of the economy. Many British leaders and managers are innovative, creative, visionary and inspirational and are heavily relied upon to sustain the UK as one of the world’s leading economies.

In today’s fast-moving competitive environment there is a need to continue to drive up the performance of the best and to address weaknesses in management and leadership that are holding back productivity and performance. The average amount of spend per manager per year for development in the UK is far lower than other European countries, particularly within small to medium sized businesses, where fewer staff have management qualifications than in equivalent sized European countries.

The existing workforce needs to be up-skilled and new people attracted into these jobs to meet the increasing demand for new management practices and a range of skills, including:

Change management skills such as the ability to manage the challenges of globalisation;

Partnership working and the ability to implement innovative solutions to a range of problems

As the workforce and the customer base become more diverse, management needs to reflect that diversity and manage it effectively. This requires not only sensitivity to issues such as ethnicity, culture, gender and disability, but a greater awareness of the potential for different and more creative approaches that diversity in general brings.

The Framework

Across the UK there are approximately 4.5 million managers and senior officials, including 1.75 million working within small and medium enterprises. To keep pace with demand, around 400,000 new managers & leaders are needed each year.

The management apprenticeship programmes have seen a steady increase in learners since their initial development and the apprenticeship is in the top twenty frameworks. The apprenticeship programme has been designed to provide flexible and portable qualifications, units and skills sets which meet the current and future needs of employers of all sizes and across all sectors.

The Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship in Management and the Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship in Leadership & Management have been developed to support those working as managers, senior managers, heads of department, directors and those working in a range of other senior management positions.

Tasks undertaken by apprentices will vary depending on the level and sector in which they are employed. Tasks may include planning, allocating and monitoring the work of the team, giving feedback, briefing teams, supporting team members, managing conflict, resolving problems, procuring supplies, project management, agreeing budgets and managing and improving customer service.

The framework has been updated to meet the changing skills needs of employers and to meet the requirements of the Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England. It will also contribute to meeting the skills priorities for England, set out in the “Skills for Sustainable Growth” report, by:

Providing flexible access to high-quality Level 4 and 5 skills programmes, which act as a real alternative for those who prefer this style of learning and achievement;

Using technical and competence qualifications, valued by employers, to help their businesses grow and remain profitable;

Developing apprentices’ Personal Learning and Thinking Skills, to build their confidence and creativity, improving their social and working lives;

Developing apprentices’ employability skills, making them more attractive to all employers career they choose; and

Providing a career pathway into jobs and training at higher level, to provide the skills which the economy needs to grow.

Our NOS and frameworks have been developed to best represent the skills that you need in your sector. If you would like to join one of our sector-focused steering groups and ensure that training continues to work for your business, please contact us on skills@instructus.org.